West Ham are reportedly considering a move for Burnley defender James Tarkowski, who is set to become a free agent in the summer.
If a report from 90 min is to be believed, West Ham United have registered their interest in James Tarkowski. The Burnley defender is greatly admired by David Moyes, who is considering making a move in the summer. Tarkowski’s current contract at Turf Moor expires at the end of the season, meaning West Ham can acquire his services on a Bosman move.
Tarkowski has shown the desire to move on as well, putting an end to his Burnley spell that has seen him appear in 200 competitive matches so far. Over the years, the Englishman has been a crucial part of the Burnley defence and his contributions at the back, alongside Ben Mee, have been integral in preserving the club’s Premier League status.
However, with his contract expiring at the end of the season, it is time for Tarkowski to move on. The former Brentford defender was even linked with a January exit earlier this season, amid interest from West Ham and Newcastle United. But it appears Burnley have no intention to offload their star defender in the middle of the season, knowing it could derail hopes for survival.
Burnley’s current stance has not deterred West Ham, who are prepared to wait until summer to make a move for Tarkowski. The 29-year-old has been identified as an ideal competitor for Angelo Ogbonna and Kurt Zouma next season, while his presence in the team may also allow West Ham to cash in on Issa Diop, who was notably linked with a move to Newcastle in January.
In the meantime, the Hammers are looking to compensate for the absence of the injured Zouma and Ogbonna by targeting Chelsea outcast Malang Sarr. Moyes believes the Frenchman has what it takes to help West Ham become more solid defensively during the second half of the campaign, although it remains to be seen whether the Blues would prefer to do business with a direct rival for the top four spots.
Burnley, meanwhile, are already preparing for life without Tarkowski next season. They are among the clubs in contention to sign Manchester United defender Phil Jones, while Everton’s Mason Holgate was also a target for Sean Dyche earlier this month. It will be interesting to see if the Clarets can strike a deal for either of these defenders before the transfer window slams shut in less than two weeks.
